Power Steering pump noise after timing belt change

DOBRYAN2000

MEMBER
HONDA ACCORD

1998 Honda Accord V6 128,000 miles

I took it in to have the timing belt changed. When I picked up the car after the timing belt change, it was making a grinding/pinging noise at the power steering pump and hose. The shop said they did not touch the power steering belt when they changed the timing belt.

They replaced the steering pump with a new honda steering pump and when I picked it up it was not making any noise. After about 45 minutes of driving, the noise returned at the power steering pump. It gets worse when I'm stopped and turn to right and left.

Mechanic believes there could be debris in the line or rack. They want to replace the pump and re bleed.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

5 Replies

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,753 POSTS

Did you let them replace it once at your expense? Then after about 45 minutes the noise returned? Make them replace it again at their nickel.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

+1

Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 AT 5:39 PM

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,753 POSTS

First of all they lied to you about not taking off the belt to the power steering. They had to do it do the job they were supposed to perform. Secondly, when you do this job it is not hard to bend a hose excessively on the pump when you loosen it and lay it out of the way. There are quite a number of articles on this but maybe you could explain the noises better. Swish, groan, growl, rattle, moan, whine, hissing, buzzing, clicking are noises described. Do any of these fit and how. They are wrong in their approach to this and the way they have handled this for you if what you tell me is true. They are a honda dealer?

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 AT 10:04 PM

DOBRYAN2000

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I agree. I feel they lied as well and in fact when I picked up the car, I opened the hood and noticed the steering fluid in the resevoir was a bright pink. After I started the car, the fluid turned much darker. I feel like they added the fluid to it right before I got there, etc.

The noise is a grinding/ rattling noise right at the pump itself. There is no noise in the rack area.

No- This is not a honda dealer.

What should be my next approach with them. If I stick it out with them, I can probably get everything done at no charge (pending they actually can fix it)

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 AT 10:38 PM

KNIGHTRIDERKITT2000

MEMBER
93 POSTS

If they added new fluid after the install then chances are they did something to it and just added more fluid without inspecting it for damage, I would definitely take it back and stay on them till they fix it at thier expense

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Wednesday, January 31st, 2007 AT 7:11 AM

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,753 POSTS

Are you certain they replaced the pump with a new one? Do yourself a favor when ever you take a car to a mechanic and they say they are going to replace the whatever item. Make your mark on the item so you know if it is the same one. For instance, put an easy for you to see scratch, mark, that will not come off on the item. Don't tell them but do it and examine what they give you.

Now according to what I find there could be a vane in the rotor inside the pump that is sticking or has been taken out. Another problem is air in the system. I would shoot for the air first since they probably left the pump laying on its side, may have disconnected it when working on the timing belt and drained out much of the fluid, etc. You mentioned that the color was different. They probably just threw in new fluid and that brings up another point which the fluid they put in should meet Honda standards.